Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Are We Alone...?

Life on other planets. Does it exist? This has been debated in philosophical and scientific circles since human beings first exhibited rational/philosophical thought.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it is mind-boggling to think about the immensity of the universe. Do you ever look up at the sky at night, observing the millions and billions and trillions of stars, and just think about the immensity of it all?

I truly wonder if our brains are even able to grasp the concept of just how large and vast the universe is.

Here are some statistics I found when perusing NASA's website:

There are at least 100 billion (with a b) galaxies in the observable universe, of which ours, the Milky Way, is only one

Our sun is just one of over 100 billion stars in the Milky Way alone

It is estimated that there are 2 to 3 trillion (with a t) planets in the universe

Most interestingly, it is estimated that there are 8.8 billion Earth-sized, habitable planets in the Milky Way alone

When you really think about these findings, is it logical to think that not one of those 2 to 3 trillion planets have life? Is it logical to think that our planet is the only one in existence in which life exists?

Since many of these planets are so many light-years away that human beings would never be able to travel to them (unless we develop the ability to travel at the speed of light), we may never know the answer to this question. But it is so fascinating to ponder, discuss, and debate.

Of course there is life on other planets! Didn't you ever watch Lost in Space? You're probably too young to remember that show, but logically thinking about the statistics you posted...8.8 billion earth sized habitable planets in the milky way alone....why not life on other planets?

I do not believe that we are alone. It just flies in the face of all scientific logic. To think that we, one little speck of dust in the universe, are the only one with life, is both arrogant and absurd :) in my opinion.

I 100% believe we are not alone. The statistics alone are enough to convince me. 1 out of 8.8 billion? There's more. Will we know in my lifetime? Perhaps not. Does that mean life elsewhere doesn't exist? Certainly not. It's insanely arrogant to assume we are "it".

HI Keith - will we ever know .. and the universe is enormous ... I sincerely hope somewhere along the line I find out - not in this life, but if I get another perhaps then ... or the ones thereafter ... I just quietly wonder at the fact it is there and we keep adding to our (I'm sure) limited knowledge ..

No doubt there is life of some kind on other planets...they are very lucky that we are so many light years away. Having trashed our own planet I'm sure if we could reach others we would trash them as well.

I'm torn between thinking our planet is unique and believing that in the universe somewhere there has to be other life because there are just so many planets out there! Wouldn't it be interesting to think that perhaps God created many planets and put the same life forms on them and then just watched to see how the intelligent beings dealt with their planet. I wouldn't doubt that somewhere 'out there' there is a planet where the 'humans' took better care than we have here!

Could there be living things say Martians wondering likewise. They might be thinking of the same thing. If they had mastered space travels of a higher level to us and found their way here by accident then it could be a possibility! Or alternatively they might stage a Martian invasion if they had already reached a higher level of intelligence. Frightening! Great write Keith!

Kind of have to have your head up your ummm a dark place lol to not think there is any life out there. With trillions of planets and only 1 has life, riiiight. I'm not saying there is little green men, but microscopic organisms are life and with what many of them can withstand it be ridiculous to think they aren't on a planet, habitable to humans or not.

Stopped in to say Happy Tuesday, though I'm a little thrown off and I think it's Monday. Anyway, I'll make enough apple pie that you can have some as well. Thanks for the drop-in. Cheers and boogie boogie.

Just a week ago I was on the beach with my daughters, counting sand! There are more Stars in the sky than all the grains of sand from all the beaches in the world! a long way to count! I think WE ARE THE ALIENS!

(I tried posting my comment under my other google account but not sure it worked - trying again).

I do believe there are other conscious life forms in the physical realm. But I also believe there other conscious life forms in other realms which we can't seen because our reality is limited by our human senses.

It would be extremely unlikely there isn't life out there. Just like us I bet they wonder the same thing. If they were to search for intelligent life I hope they wouldn't find Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann first, because they would said "nope" and skip Earth and move on to the next planet.

There has to be life on other planets. We can't be the only ones. Just your numbers alone make it virtually impossible not to have company, in some form or another. And last night, I did indeed stand in my garden and look up at the stars and think 'Blimey (coz I'm British), there's a lot of stars up there' :-)

Funny that you mention this because I was just having a blog discussion on this topic somewhere else not too long ago. I believe that I said on that one something like, "I do think there is quite possibly life on other planets. However, if they are smarter than us (and if they ever manage to travel here, that would be yes, since they have accomplished what we have not) they would be wise to stay hidden. While we find the idea of aliens fascinating, I do believe the reality is that we kill that which we fear."

Anything is possible but I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what might be out there...I just like the beauty of spacious skies, the mystery of the great beyond...I like the mysterious part, not the KNOWING part.

It's hubris to think this is the only planet with life on it. Now, whether we ever encounter or are able to communicate with another lifeform is conjecture. The whole communication aspect is something, which has recently been debated more in astrobiological circles. Fascinating stuff, if you're into it.

As an aside, if my daughter doesn't go into medicine, one of the fields she is considering is astrobiology. She makes me so proud.

It's hubris to think this is the only planet with life on it. Now, whether we ever encounter or are able to communicate with another lifeform is conjecture. The whole communication aspect is something, which has recently been debated more in astrobiological circles. Fascinating stuff, if you're into it.

As an aside, if my daughter doesn't go into medicine, one of the fields she is considering is astrobiology. She makes me so proud.

It is so fascinating Keith! I can not wrap my head around those billions and trillions. I think there is life elsewhere in the galaxies. I think some of it is more advanced than we are. I like to think of love expanding to all throughout everywhere. Very well written post! Hugs.

Hi There, Hope you had a great Labor Day Weekend. We did --but didn't do much since it has gotten so hot here. We did grill a couple of delicious steaks and had baked potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles and cranberry relish for dinner... YUM...

I definitely believe that there is LIFE beyond our planet... We are just a tiny speck in this huge universe... Anytime we think 'we' are the center of the universe----all we have to do is to look up at the sky... We are NOT...

Who knows? I do know that when I contemplate the vastness out there I realize how itsy bitsy teeny weeny practically nothing smaller than an ant we humans are. We are basically nothing in the whole scheme of things.

It isn't logical to think that life hasn't developed elsewhere in this vast universe. Irregardless we, being made of the stuff of stars, are connected to it... and the universe... at the most basic level.

When I look up at the sky, it makes me think how tiny we really are and what an awesome God we have who made it all and loves and cares about each and every one of us. : )Yes, I believe there is life out there. After all heaven is up there!! : )

I think it would be arrogant to think we are the only ones in this entire universe. Just writing that makes me feel so lonely. Do I think they have some here and seen our planet? I don't know but i hope that they all do not want to eat us, inhabit our bodies, destroy us and take our planet or blow our planet up to make an interstellar highway. I wonder why, in all the film and TV industry, why Star Trek seems to be the only one to offer hope in the future? Can't we make a film where we do not blow up most of the world and get attacked by aliens who want to suck out our simple brains?

I think of this quite often, and discovering that there are millions of other galazies out there makes our world seem even less significant, more smaller. I remember as a kid, thinking the Milky Way was the only galaxy. My mind is blown every day. I can not believe that Earth is the only one of millions of planets to have life, I suspect that life on other planets are probably other forms, be it microscopic, or even plant. Good post.

Interesting question and thanks for sharing.I believe that there is life out there somewhere too. Do know that I love looking up at the wonderful night sky and seeing all the magnificent twinkling stars and the moon shinning brightly above us.Hope you have a happy weekCarolyn

Just like with the concept of a life after death, life on other planets just HAS to exist. To me, it's only common sense. You'd have a better chance of seeing Jesus in a nudie bar than Earth being the only spot in the universe with life on it.

I love thinking about the immensity of the universe because there are so many possibilities as to what's out there. I also believe there's other intelligent life out there, maybe millions of years older than humanity. But the universe is so huge that there's simply no way we can detect or contact each other.

I took statistics in college and speaking statistically, odds are there is life elsewhere.I think out belief in deities sometimes makes us take a short sighted view of life elsewhere, but in the scheme of things I have to believe that if life evolved here, it evolved elsewhere. After all, the same laws of physics and biology exist in other galaxies why would life not exist there too.

The belief we mankind has had hammered into their head that we are so special and such from religion seems to blind many. But with an open mind it be very hard not to think some form of life isn't out there. Definitely.

Not sure if there is life on other planets; it would be a different type of life than ours because I thought our planet was the best for sustaining life with right mixture of water, oxygen, etc. I trust if there is life on other planets and God wants us to intermingle with them, he'll guide us on how to do so :)

Seems impossible there isn't other life out there. Just no idea what that life looks like. may not resemble ours in any way. You're right that it's impossible to really grasp the enormity of the universe. We have no sense of such a large space. Well astronauts may have some idea. my brain just wont' stretch that far.

It is difficult to imagine something with no ending. I do believe that there is other life out there. Why would /God only create us! He had vast universes to have fun with! And we may not have been his first creations, nor his last.

I've always been in awe of how big the universe is. I don't think we can comprehend it at all. I'm not really sure whether or not I believe there is life on other planets. To be honest, it's not something I've considered too much. But I have a friend who has thought about it quite a bit and when she told me her thoughts, they resonated with me. She thinks that if there is life on other planets, they are just like us. It's partly a religious answer--God created humans in his own image, so why would people on other planets look different. But it makes the most sense to me.

It would be very arrogant of us to think we are the only planet with life on it. With all that is out there, there must be life, or better yet, intelligent life on another planet out there probably pondering the exact same thing right this very minute.

Wow, I didn't know these stats, they are very humbling. In that context, it seems ridiculous to believe there isn't life on any of the others. It makes me come over all existentialist: we really are all just ants living for a second. Better make the most of it, eh?

It is completely mind numbing grasping the thought that there is no end to the universe. It is hard for me to believe after reading the statistics you gathered Keith that we are "alone". I have personally never thought that we are.Thank you for your holiday wishes and take care yourself!R.

I asked my 15yr old nephew this once and he said, 'It is what it is.' I said, 'what do you mean?' to which he replied, 'well, if there are aliens on other planets then there are and if there aren't then there aren't.' I had no further comment! I do believe that ANYTHING is possible and other life forms on other planets are certainly real in the sense that they have been thought of so much and 'the thought of a thing constitutes its origin.' I would love to hear some of your thoughts on time though Keith, since you seem to find the time to stop by my blog and are generous with your comments despite having so many followers! These days I feel guilty being so 'busy' which I know is a construct of my mind, that I haven't kept up appearances in the blogging world.I need some healthier ideas on time so that I can learn to be more generous with it!

The numbers boggle the mind. I can't even imagine those kinds of numbers. I hope there is life on other planets. I hope we're not alone in the universe. I hope that the inhabitants of other planets are better at living within the diversity of their planets than we are.

yes so many universes so many people, different level of spirituality, different level of being, but so many universe, it just makes me love even more, for maybe when i leave my body I can travel, the way my body's chemisty never allowed me too, and after a brief rest and meeting all the loves I've lost and my dog and my little Cat Sammi and my mom i will travel and learn of all the world created of which we have no knowledge but sheer faith.....

I'm not sure what to think about that!I've always thought there has to be. I believe in the sightings. And after all the facts and research, why assume we are the only ones? There you go, making me think again, Keith! :)

Those facts are a bit overwhelming if you really sit and think about them. I mean, holy cow, just look up on a clear night. Just amazing. It's one of my favorite things to do - drive out to the beach at night, chase some crabs and then stare up. You can't beat the view.

On my one and only visit to an Imax theater one year, I watched a short movie about space. It was mind blowing to see it all through the Hubble's lens. If you haven't seen it, you should. There are no words spectacular enough to describe the awesomeness & beauty that we are surrounded by.

I would find it very hard to believe that there's not some form of life out there. It might not look like what we'd imagine, though. It makes you wonder if there are other beings out there pondering the same question we are - "Is there life out there, or are we alone?"

YES. I totally believe there are galaxies like our own out there with all kinds of life. No, I don't think there are strange looking aliens who people other planets, but other worlds like ours with a similar Eco system and populace. My hubby really wants to go explore the universe, and I love him to death, but I really thing there's no place like home. =)

I believe there is life beyond our planet....we are not alone....and I dont think aliens are like what they show in movies....i think they are different ...some of them might have already visited us..who knows..they might be soooo tiny like unicellular organisms or they might be so intelligent or they are still evolving...we are definitely not alone.....i

Wow! My mind is boggled with those statistics! Of course I believe that we are not alone.....I have seen strange things in these mountains.... (creepy music). Seriously though, how could we be the only inhabitants?

I absolutely believe there is life elsewhere. I took an astronomy class last semester and loved every minute of it. The universe has always fascinated me. I'm glad you posted this. It reminded me that there is a star party tonight at the planetarium.;)

i think so....even all the planets that we know about are just like dust flakes in the universe. When i was a kid i often wonder where will i go if i just keep falling down in the outer space. i used to think that the black hole is a portal. like a tunnel that man built to bridge one island to another. hha

I love this post. I've been thinking SO MUCH about this topic lately. I just started looking more in to it as well. Have you heard of the "wow! signal?" It gets me so excited! Then I also read another theory the other day ... and now I can't remember the name of it.. but it was about how our sun is one of the newer stars in the universe so we would be one of the youngest life forms.. so if there was other life out there it probably would have contacted us already since it should be more advanced then we are. My problem with this theory is that I don't think we as a whole Earth are ready to encounter other life. I think it would throw everything off kilter. SO many other things I want to say but yes. I believe there is other life out there. NO WAY ARE WE ALONE!! Heck ya!

I just had a conversation on this topic with a close friend. We came to the conclusion that the universe is so large that it seems almost unrealistic that we be the only life forms. Everyone has their own opinions though :). Great post Keith, very thought provoking. Hope your doing well.

The universe would be a lonely, lonely place if we were the only intelligent beings in it. I absolutely believe there is other life out there! You pose such fascinating questions, Keith! Have a good one!

I honestly think there must be.It would be arrogant of us to believe we are the only intelligent life in a Universe as vast as ours, wouldn't it?My only hope is that when Aliens do inevitably make contact, they are more friendly than the ones in the movies!*smiles*;)

I must tell you I love visiting your blog. You have one thought-provoking question or curiosity after the other. I don't know how you keep coming up with them...but do keep on doing it! I'm sure there are other worlds out there, just don't know if we deserve to find it (after our poor track record on planet Earth.)

Perhaps it is simply with ageing, or instinct via living experiences, but I now do believe that the possobility of other lives, 'out there,' is more than likely...We have no real proof otherwise...I can only pray in the meantime!!Best wishes for Autumn and Halloween Keith:)Eileen

Dear Keith, your postings usually always leave me pondering a question or musing about possibilities. I do believe there is life on other planets, and I wonder what the history and culture of those people are. I wonder is they, too, have known a Gandhi and a Yeshua (Jesus) and a Martin Luther King and a Mandela. I wonder in other words who the people were who have spoken to them about the wonder of being human and the wholeness of what human can mean and the goodness of reaching out and embracing all of humankind. I just wonder. Peace.

I absolutely think we cannot be the only ones in this universe who manage to be alive :) Sometimes I look into the sky and I'm just blown away by the thought of infinity. And I wish I could meet those others on the other planets...but then all the horror movies creep in and I'm not so sure if I really want to meet them ;)

It truly blows my mind to think that no matter how long we ponder the answers to these questions, we will never ever know. Thank you for always bringing a thought provoking question or thought to the table! :) i will always love stopping by!

I definitely think that there is life on other planets! It is fun to imagine the amazing animals and plants on other planets out there. Also, to imagine what alien cultures are like. Imagine all the great books and other works of art they have created. I'd like to read a book by an alien or listen to alien music.